Networks in the Syrian Refugee Crisis
Watching the news these days, it’s difficult to go without hearing about the Syrian refugee crisis. Syrians are fleeing their war-torn country in droves due to unsafe living conditions. They are leaving by boats, cars, trucks, and trains with their most important belongings and seeking shelter in countries across Europe, the Middle East, Asia, South America, and Africa.
Having spent the past few weeks in Networks, it is challenging to look at a group of individuals traveling from one location to another without viewing them as a network. Syrians seeking asylum first head to neighboring countries such as Jordan, Hungary, Turkey, and Greece. From these countries, they recuperate from the first leg of their perilous journey before moving on to countries such as Germany, Sweden, France, UK, and Austria.
Pressure from these countries quickly reaching capacity has lead to countries like the U.S. having to get more involved; President Obama has mandated that we allow 10,000 Syrian refugees into the country next fiscal year, up from the barely 2,000 last year.
Each of the surrounding countries have developed strong ties to Syrians seeking refuge. As they move from one country to the next, they are increasing the likelihood of not returning to their home country and weakening the ties between their present location and Syria.
References
http://www.cnn.com/2015/09/11/world/syria-refugee-crisis-when-war-displaces-half-a-country/index.html